05-02-2025
NYSP: Explosive material, guns, meth removed from Erin home, man charged with felonies
ERIN, N.Y. (WETM) — One man is facing felony charges after police reportedly removed around 20 pounds of explosive material, 20 firearms, 10,000 rounds of ammo, and meth from a house in Erin during a search.
Robert R. Budnick, 42, of Erin, was arrested following a three-month-long investigation. According to the New York State Police, members of numerous law enforcement agencies searched a home on Staples Road in the Town of Erin on Feb. 4.
Police say the officers who searched the home found and removed the following weapons, ammo, and explosive materials:
1 AK-47 assault rifle
1 AR-10 assault rifle (ghost gun)
1 SKS assault rifle
2 sawed-off shotguns
8 bolt-action rifles
1 lever-action rifle
11 high-capacity ammunition magazines
About 10,000 rounds of assorted ammunition
About 20 pounds of binary explosive material
Several of the guns reportedly had defaced serial numbers. In addition to the items listed above, police say they also found about four ounces of methamphetamine oil, about one ounce of crystal meth, chemicals and equipment used to make meth, scales and packaging materials for drugs, and $4,700 in cash.
Budnick was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (a class A-II felony) and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (a class C felony). His charges were read in the Town of Horseheads Court, and he was taken to the Chemung County Jail. Budnick is currently being held on $250,000 bail or $1,000,000 bond.
A second man was arrested on a misdemeanor charge as a result of the search. Buck L. Bates, 40, of Elmira, was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (a class A misdemeanor). He was released on an appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in the Town of Erin Court on Feb. 25.
The following departments and units were involved with the search, which was led by the New York State Police Troop E Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (VGNET): the New York State Police Special Operations Response Team (SORT), the Contaminated Crime Scene Emergency Response Team (CCSERT), the Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU), Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), the State Police Horseheads Uniform Force (UF) and Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), the Troop E Crisis Negotiation Unit (CNU), and the Elmira Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit.
The investigation that led to the arrests is ongoing at this time.
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